Maha Shivaratri
is celebrated throughout the country; it is particularly popular in Uttar Pradesh. Maha
Shivratri falls on the I3th (or I4th) day of the dark half of 'Phalgun' (February-March).
The name means "the night of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly at night.
This is a festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva and it is believed that on this day
Lord Shiva was married to Parvati.

On this festival
people worship 'Shiva - the Destroyer'. This night marks the night when Lord Shiva danced
the 'Tandav'. In Andhra Pradesh, pilgrims throng the Sri Kalahasteshwara Temple at
Kalahasti and the Bharamarambha Malikarjunaswamy Temple at Srisailam.

About
The Lord
Shiva - the word meaning auspicious - is one of the Hindu Trinity, comprising of Lord
Brahma, the creator, Lord Vishnu, the preserver and Lord Shiva or Mahesh, the Destroyer
and Re-Producer of life. Shiva is known by many names like "Shankar",
"Mahesh", "Bholenath", "Neelakanth", "Shambhu
Kailasheshwar", "Umanath", "Nataraj" and others.

For few people,
Shiva is "Paramatman", "Brahman", the Absolute, but many more prefer
to see Shiva as a personal God given to compassion for his worshippers, and the dispenser
of both spiritual and material blessings. Related to the Absolute concept is Shiva as
"Yoganath" meaning the Lord of Yoga, wherein he becomes teacher, path and goal.
As such he is the "Adi Guru" or the Highest Guru of 'Sannyasins' who have
renounced the world to attain the Absolute.

He is the most
sought-after deity amongst the Hindus and they pray to him as the god of immense
large-heartedness who they believe grants all their wishes. Around him are weaved many
interesting stories that reveal His magnanimous heart. Not only this, but these stories
and legends also enrich the Indian culture and art.

Time is invisible
and formless. Therefore Mahakal Shiva, as per the Vedas, manifested himself as
"LINGUM" to make mankind aware of the presence of Eternal Time. That day when
Shiva manifested himself in the form of "Lingum" was the fourth day of the dark
night in the month of 'Magha' i.e. February-March. Maha Shivratri continues to be
celebrated forever and ever.

The
Story Of King Chitrabhanu
In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma, whilst resting on the bed of arrows and
discoursing on Dharma, refers to the observance of Maha Shivaratri by King Chitrabhanu.
The story goes as follows - Once upon a time King Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who
ruled over the whole of Jambudvipa, was observing a fast with his wife, it being the day
of Maha Shivaratri. The sage Ashtavakra came on a visit to the court of the king.

The sag asked the
king the purpose of his observing the past. King Chitrabhanu explained that he had the
gift of remembering the incidents of his previous birth.

The king said to
the sage that in his previous he was a hunter in Varanasi and his name was Suswara. His
only livelihood was to kill and sell birds and animals. One day while roaming through
forests in search of animals he was overtaken by the darkness of night. Unable to return
home, he climbed a tree for shelter. It happened to be a Bael tree. He had shot a deer
that day but had no time to take it home. So he bundled it up and tied it to a branch on
the tree. As hunger and thirst tormented him, he was kept awake throughout the night. He
shed profuse tears when he thought of his poor wife and children who were starving and
anxiously waiting for his return. To pass away the time that night he engaged himself in
plucking the Bael leaves and dropping them down onto the ground.

The nest day he
returned home and sold the deer and then bought some food for himself and his family. The
moment he was about to break his fast a stranger came to him, begging for food. He served
the food first to stranger and then had his own.

At the time of
his death, he saw two messengers of Lord Shiva. They were sent down to conduct his soul to
the abode of Lord Shiva. He learnt then for the first time of the great merit he had
earned by the unconscious worship of Lord Shiva during the night of Shivaratri. The
messengers told him that there was a Lingam at the bottom of the tree. The leaves I
dropped fell on the Lingam. His tears, which had shed out of pure sorrow for his family,
fell onto the Lingam and washed it and he had fasted all day and all night. Thus, he
unconsciously worshiped the Lord.

As the conclusion
of the tale the King said that he lived in the abode of the Lord and enjoyed divine bliss
for long ages and now he has reborn as Chitrabhanu.

The
FestivityPeople observe a strict fast on this day. Some devotees do not
even take a drop of water and they keep vigil all night. The Shiva Lingam is worshipped
throughout the night by washing it every three hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water,
etc., whilst the chanting of the Mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" continues. Offerings
of Bael leaves are made to the Lingam as Bael leaves are considered very sacred and it is
said that Goddess Lakshmi resides in them.

Hymns in praise
of Lord Shiva, such as the "Shiva Mahimna Stotra" of Pushpadanta or Ravana's
"Shiva Tandava Stotra" are sung with great fervour and devotion. People repeat
the 'Panchakshara' Mantra, "Om Namah Shivaya". He, who utters the names of Shiva
during Shivaratri, with perfect devotion and concentration, is freed from all sins. He
reaches the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is liberated from the wheel of
births and deaths. Many pilgrims dock to the places where there are Shiva temples.